Sunday, December 7:
The painters from Nürnberg, two deaf-mutes! A little progress has been made, and we receive the key today. I am constantly working on the dolls’ things and am a bit wearied by it.
In the evening more Faust; unfortunately we do not care for Helen. One is too conscious that it is an imitation of a misunderstood original, too conscious of the effort; it is cold. [A few untranslatable words omitted.] Only when Mephisto Phorkyas enters does it come alive: “All the rest is ventriloquism,” says R.
The children are well and enjoying life. They went out for a walk with R., all in high spirits, particularly the three little ones.